National Lottery winners ‘accidentally’ sealed jackpot after being ‘bumped’ into – ‘I usually pick the same numbers!’

A chance nudge in a supermarket led to a life-changing £1 million lottery win for Don and Ann Webster from South Derbyshire.

The couple’s fortunes changed dramatically in 2006 when a stranger bumped into Ann whilst they were filling out their lottery numbers, causing her to nudge into her husband.

The accidental bump made Don pick different numbers from his usual selection – a mistake that would prove incredibly fortunate.

“Don had always played the same numbers,” said told the BBC Ann. “But on this occasion a man bumped into me as we were filling in our forms in the supermarket…I nudged into Don, and he accidentally chose the number 34 rather than his usual 43.”

That single mistaken number would prove to be worth far more than Don’s regular selection. Had he stuck with his usual number 43, the couple would have won just £829.

Instead, the accidental selection of number 34 resulted in all six numbers matching, securing them a jackpot of £1,023,801 in the draw on Saturday 6 May, 2006.

Rather than starting over with a new ticket, the couple had decided to keep the mistaken numbers.

The Websters used their winnings to create their dream home, specifically designed for Ann, who uses a wheelchair.

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It took 15 years after their win before they could move into the property, with the couple spending years searching for the perfect plot.

“We’ve always had to adapt previous houses we’d lived in, but it’s never the same as starting from scratch,” said Ann.

Their previous home, a converted barn, had posed particular challenges. “Regular power cuts meant the lift often didn’t work, leaving me stranded downstairs with my bed, shower, clothes and make-up upstairs.”

Their new riverside home features clever adaptations throughout, designed to maintain a stylish appearance while maximising accessibility.

“I wanted it to look like a nice house for me that is liveable for me,” Ann said.

The four-bedroom property includes an open-plan living area with hard flooring for easy wheelchair movement. The kitchen was specially designed with lowered worktops and modified plinths.

“We cut off part of the plinths at the bottom. It’s shorter than normal, but you don’t notice,” she explained.

The Websters have also used their winnings to enhance their travel experiences. “Now we can afford to stay in five-star hotels, and we can pay for first and business class flights, which makes things a lot easier for me,” Ann said.